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The quiet and growing crisis of male loneliness
It is costing lives, money and social connectedness. But a growing number of countries are taking steps to fix this.
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The roots of male loneliness are both cultural and structural, says the writer.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Jeffery Tan
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Loneliness has long been dismissed as a personal misfortune. But evidence now shows it is widespread, measurable and costly. It harms health, reduces productivity and weakens social cohesion. Men are especially vulnerable: They are less likely to sustain close friendships, less willing to seek help and more prone to withdraw when social ties fray.
The numbers are stark. In Britain, a 2021 YouGov survey found one in five men – twice the rate, compared with women – had no close friends. In America, the share of men without close friendships rose from 3 per cent to 15 per cent between 1990 and 2021. In Singapore, a study by the Institute of Policy Studies found the youngest cohort – those aged 21 to 34 – reported the highest levels of loneliness.
